Power hinge and actuator assembly therefor



May 29, 1962 H. M. GEYER 3,036,473

POWER HINGE AND ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY THEREFOR Filed March 4, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1N V EN TOR.

Howard M Geyer His Attorney May 29, 1962 H. M. GEYER POWER HINGE AND ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 4, 1959 f e Ky m@ VM. N MQ md f W N. m. Ho u O Ov o o o o o o Q w o o o o o o Nm o o o o omo o su @n 4?/ I ww www Nm NN @N VLB @N EJO@ mmf; E N 4V! 5 MMU,

His Attorney May 29, 1962 H. M. GEYER 3,036,473

' .PowER HINGE AND AcTuAToR ASSEMBLY THEREEOR His Attorney' aired States 'This invention pertains to rotary actuators, and particularly to a power hinge embodying a plurality of tandem arranged rotary actuators.

Heretofore, it has been customary to use a single rotary actuator for operating pivotally movable control surfaces on aircraft. Since in some control surfaces the `loads are evenly distributed throughout the length thereof, it it dilicult to obtain precise movements of the control surface throughout its length with a single rotary actuator having an output element connected to the control surface at only one end. thereof. This invention relates to a multiple rotary actuator power hinge construction wherein several actuators are arranged in tandem throughout the length of the hinge to which the control surface is attached whereby the torque required for etecting pivotal movement of the control surface will be developed and directly applied to the control surface lthroughout its length. Accordingly, among my objects are the provision of a multiple rotary actuator assembly comprising a plurality of tandem arranged interconnected rotary actuators of the same size; the further provision of a power hinge including a plurality of tandem arranged synchronized rotary actuators; and the still further provision of an improved rotary actuator assembly.

The aforementioned and other objects are accomplished in the present invention by connecting the rotary :output member of each actuator with a common output shaft so as to mechanically synchronize the movements of the several actuators. Speciiically, each actuator is of the general type disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 794,280, led February 19, 1959, now United States Patent No. 2,945,387, and thus comprises a stationary cylinder having a two-part piston assembly disposed therein. The several tandem arranged cylinders are attached to stationary supporting structure, and the reciprocable piston assemblies disposed therein divide Y the cylinders into opposed. chambers. The opposed chambers of the several actuators are connected in a lliuid parallel circuit arrangement, and can be alternately connected to pressure and drain so as to impart reciprocatio'n to the piston assemblies.

Each piston assembly includes a pair `of sections formed with relatively short internal helical spline teeth. One piston section mates with an externally helically splined reaction sleeve rigidly connected with the cylinders. The other piston section mates with an externally helically splined `output sleeve supported for rotation relative to the cylinder. The output shaft for synchronizing movement of the tandem arranged actuators is rotatably supported in each cylinder and extends therethrough. The output sleeves of each cylinder are rigidly connected to the synchronizing output shait, and the shaft in turn is connected at a plurality of spaced points to a plurality of hinge elements adapted Vfor connection to the pivotally movable control surface.

In one embodiment of the rotary actuator, the output sleeve is connected to the centrally located synchronizing shaft by a plurality of dowel pins. In -a modied embodiment, the output sleeve is keyed to the output shaft, and a multi-part preloaded thrust ring assembly is utilized to support the thrust loads in both directions. The multi-part preloaded thrust ring assembly comprises h- Patented May 29, 1962 four semi-circular elements having mating slots and tongues whereby two of the semi-circular elements, when assembled, `form an annulus for supporting the thrust loa-ds in one direction, and the other two semi-circular rings, when assembled, form an annulus for supporting the -thrust loads in the opposite direction.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the `accompanying drawings, Wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view in elevation of a power hinge construction according to the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a portion of the power hinge shown in FIGURE l.

FIGURES 3 and 4 are sectional views taken along lines 3 3 and 4-4, respectively, of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified rotary actuator assembly.

With particular reference to FIGURE l, a power hinge is depicted comprising a plurality of stationary leaf hinge sections 10 and a plurality of pivotally movable leaf hinge sections 12. The movable `sections 12 are welded, or othewise suitably connected, to rings 14, as clearly shown in 'FIGURE 4. Each section 12 has a portion encircling a part of the periphery of each ring I4, and the rings 14 are aligned with cutouts 16 in the sections 10. The sections 10 are rigidly attached to actuator cylinders 18, by any suitable means `such as by welds, and likewise partially encircle the cylinders 1S as shown in `FIGURE 3. The sections 10 are adapted yfor connection to a stationary support, not shown, and the sections 12 are adapted for connection to a pivotally movable control surface, not shown.

With reference to FIGURES 2 through 4, a hollow rotary output shaft 20 extends through the yseveral actuator cylinders 18 throughout the length of the power hinge. rlhe rings .14 are drivingly connected to the shaft 20 by means of keys 22. The loop, or tongue portion 2.4 of each pivotally movable section 12 encircles a portion of each ring 14, and rotary movement of the shaft 20 is thus imparted to the rings 14 and the sections 12. A ring 114 is disposed between each pair of tandem arranged actuators and also at `opposite ends of the power hinge. Thus, in the di-sclosed embodiment wherein four actuators are employed, iive rings 14 and five movable leaf hinge sections 12 are embodied in the power hinge.

A hollow tube 26 having four milled slots 23, Sti, 32 and 34, as shown in FIGURE 4, is disposed within the shaft 20. The milled slots 23 through 34 terminate short of the ends of the tube 26 to form shoulders, as indicated by numeral 36, and the tube 26 is brazed to the shaft 20 throughout its entire length. The four actuators for operating the power hinge are indicated by numerals 38, A40, 42 and *44. Since the actuators are of identical construction, the detailed construction of only one will be described.

lEach actuator includes a stationary cylinder IS having a reciprocable piston assembly 46 disposed therein. The ends of the cylinder 18 are closed by caps 43 and 50, the cap 48 being welded to the cylinder 18, and the cap 50 'being attached to the cylinder by a nut 52. The piston assembly 46 comprises sections 54 and 56' which are interconnected by a straight spline locking ring 53 and `a snap ring 60. The piston assembly '416 divides the cylinder 18 into a pair of opposed chambers 62 and 64.

rlhe piston section '54 has a set -of internal helical spline teeth 66 which mate with external helical spline teeth 68 formed on an `output sleeve 70. The output sleeve 70 is journalled for rotation relative to the cylinder 1S by spaced needle bearings 72Vand 74. The piston section S6 has a -set of internal helical spline teeth 76 which mate with external spline teeth 77 on a stationary reactiony sleeve 78. The sleeves 70 and 78 are coaxially V'ar-- ranged land of the same diameter. The sleeves 70 and 78 are spaced apart by the needle 4bearing 7=4 and a seal assembly 80 Iwhich-carries seals that engage the shaft 20 and the piston assembly 46. Y Y

The reaction sleeve 78 is keyed ,tocanV end ring SZ, and the end ring 'Sz is in turn keyed to the cylinder and cap 48. The shaft Z is supported for rotation relative to each of the actuator cylinders by roller bearings 84 and 86. The rotary output sleeve 70 is drivingly connected to the shaft 20 by dowel pins 4$8 and 90, as shown in FIGURE 3. Upon reciprocation of the piston assembly 46, the interaction between the helical spline teeth 76 and' 78 results in angular movement of the piston assembly 46. Combined angular movement and reciprocation ofthe piston assembly 46 results in angular movement of the output sleeve 70, the extent of angular movementrof the output sleeve 70 being the sum of the rotation caused by helical spline teeth 'f6l and 77 and 66 and 68.

Since the output sleeves 70 are drivingly connected Vto the shaft 20', the movements of the several actuators will be mechanically synchronized. The opposed chambers 62 and 64 of each `actuator cylinder 18 are connected in a parallel yfluid circuit arrangement through the milled grooves in `the tube 2I6. YThe actuator 38 has a pair of fittings 89 and 911 through which Huid under pressure can be supplied and drained to the opposed actuator cylinders. The fitting 91 communicates with the actuator cylinder 162. The actuator chamber 62 is connected with grooves 28 and 30 through ports 92 in the shaft 20. The actuator chamber 64 is connected by ports 94 in the end ring 82;V and ports 96 in the shaft 20 with the grooves 32 and 34. The grooves 28I and 30 are connected with the left hand ,cylinder chamber of each actuator, `and the grooves 321 and 34 are connected with the right hand chamber of each cylinder. Accordingly, when fluid under pressure is supplied to the fitting 89` on the actuator 38 and the fitting 91 is connected to drain, the left hand chambers of the actuators 38, 40, 4Z and 44 will be subjected to pressure while the right hand chambers are connected to drain thereby causing the piston assemblies of the several actuators to move to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 2. -In this mannner angular movement will be imparted to the leaf hinge sections 12 in one direction. To effect movement of lthe several piston lassen'iblies to the left, pressure is applied to the fitting 91 and the fitting 89 is connected to drain, thereby imparting angular movement in the opposite direction to the leaf hinge sections 1-2.

With reference to FIGURE 5, a modified rotary actuator adapted for use in the Vpowerhinge is disclosed, similar numerals depicting similar parts. In the actuator shown in FIGURE 5, the output sleeve 70l is drivingly connected with the shaft 20 through a plurality of keys 98. Since the keys 98 are yonly capable of transmitting angular movement to the shaft 20, and in no way restrict axial movement of the sleeve 70, a multi-part thrust ring assembly 100 is utilized to support the thrust loads Vin opposite directions during reciprocation of the piston assembly 46. The multi-part thrust ring assembly 100 comprises four semi-circular elements. T'wo of the semicircular elements 102, form a thrust ring having a flange 104 and a plurality of circumferentially. spaced, axially extending teeth 106 which extend through aligned slots of theV flange of the second thrust ring. The second thrust ring comprises a pair of semi-circular elements 1,08 having a flange portion 110 and a plurality of axially extending, circumferentially spaced teeth 1112 which extend through aligned slots inthe flanges of the elements 10%. Y

shaft 20 and the leaf hinge sections 12 is determined by the vcharacter of the helical spline teeth on the sleeves 70 and 78K. Thus, for a given stroke 4length of the actuator pistons, a maximum rotary output with minimum torque can be obtained by having the helical spline teeth 68 and 77, respectivelyV of opposite hands and the same lead. To obtain the maximum torque and the minimum angular output, vthe helical spline teeth 68 and 77, respectively are of the same hand and different lead.

While the embodiments ofthe invention as herein disclosed constitutes preferred forms, it is `to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. A power hinge including, a rotatable shaft, a plurality of tandem arranged rotary actuators located in spaced relation along the length of said shaft, each actuator comprising a cylinder having a reciprocable piston disposed therein capable of uid pressure actuation in both directions, a plurality of stationary leaf hinge sections connected to said cylinders, said shaft extending longitudinally through the cylinders of said plurality of actuators, means supporting said shaft for rotation relative to each of said cylinders, each piston dividing Vits respective cylinder into a pair of opposed chambers,rhelical means interconnecting the piston of each actuator with .its cylinder and with said shaft for imparting rotation `to the shaft upon reciprocationV of said pistons, a plurality of movable leaf hinge sections connected to said shaft, and means interconnecting the opposed chambers of said plurality of actuators in a parallel fluid circuit arrangement.

2. A power hinge including, a rotatable shaft, a plurality of tandem arnanged rotary actuators located in spaced relation along the length of said shaft, each actuator comprising a cylinder having a reciprocable piston disposed therein capable of fluid pressure actuation in bo-th directions, a plurality of stationary leaf hinge sections connected to said cylinders, said shaft extending longitudinally through the cylinders of said plurality of actuators, means supporting said shaft for rotation relative to cach of said cylinders, helical spline connection means between the piston of each actuator and its cylinder and between the piston of each actuator and said shaft for imparting rotation to the shaft upon reciprocation of said pistons, and a plurality of movable leaf hinge sections connected to said shaft.

3. A power hinge including, a rotatable shaft, a plurality of tandem arranged rotary actuators located in spaced relation along the length of said shaft, each actuator comprising a cylinder having a reciprooable piston assembly disposed therein capable of fluid pressure actuation in both directions, a reaction member disposed within said cylinder and restrained against rotation relative thereto and a rotary member disposed within Vsaid cylinder and supported for rotation relative thereto, said members having external helical spline teeth, said piston assembly having sets of internal helical spline teeth mating with the external helical spline teeth of said members whereby reciprocation of said piston assembly imparts rotation to said rotary member, means supporting said shaft for rotation relative to said cylinders, a plurality of stationary leaf hinge sections connected to said cylinders, a plurality of movable leaf hinge sections connected to said shaft, and means .interconnecting the rotary member of each actuator With said shaft whereby the movements of said actuators are mechanically synchronized.

4. The power hinge set forth in claim 3 wherein each piston `divides its respective cylinder into a pair of opposed chambers, and means connecting the opposed chambers of the several actuators in a parallel uid circuit arrangement.

5. A power hinge including, a rotatable shaft, a plurality of tandem arranged rotary units located in spaced relation along the length of said shaft, each unit comprising a cylinder having a reciprocable piston assembly disposed therein capable of iiuid pressure actuation in both directions, a reaction member disposed within said cylinder and restrained against rotation relative thereto and a rotary member disposed within said cylinder and supported for rotation relative thereto, said members having external helical means, said piston assembly having internal helical means mating with the external helical means of said members -whereby reciprocation of the piston assembly imparts rotation to said rotary member, a plurality of stationary leaf hinge sections connected to said cylinders, a plurality of movable leaf hinge sec- -tions connected to said shaft, means supporting said shaft for rotation relative to said cylinders, and means interconnecting the rotary member of each actuator with said shaft to mechanically synchronize the movements of the several actuators.

6. A power hinge including, a plurality of stationary leaf hinge sections, a plurality of movable leaf hinge sections, a rotatable shaft, means interconnecting the rotatable shaft and the said movable leaf hinge sections, a plurality of tandem arranged rotary actu-ators located in spaced relation along the length of said shaft, each actuator comprising a cylinder having a reciprocable piston disposed therein capable of fluid pressure actuation in both directions, said stationary leaf hinge sections being connected to said cylinders, said shaft extending longitudinally through the cylinders `of said plurality of actuators, means supporting said shaft for rotation relative to each of said cylinders, and helical means oper-atively interconnecting the piston of each actuator with its cylinder and with said shaft for imparting rotation to the shaft upon reciprocation of said pistons.

7. 'Ihe power hinge set forth in claim 6 wherein the piston of each actuator divides its respective cylinder into a pair of opposed chambers, and means connecting the opposed chambers of said plurality of actuators in a parallel fluid circuit arrangement.

8. A rotary actuator including, a stationary cylinder, a reciprocable piston assembly disposed within said cylinder, a shaft extending through said cylinder and rotatably supported therein, a pair of sleeves disposed within said cylinder having external helical spline teeth, means connecting one of said sleeves with said cylinder so as to prevent movement thereof, means supporting the other sleeve for rotation relative to said cylinder, said rotary sleeve being keyed to said shaft, and a multi-part thrust ring assembly disposed within said cylinder and engaging spaced shoulders on said shaft, said piston assembly having spaced sets of internal helical spline teeth mating with the external helical spline teeth on said sleeves whereby reciprocation of said piston assembly imparts rotation to said shaft, said multi-part thrust ring assembly supporting the thrust loads imposed on said sleeves in both directions.

9. A power hinge including, a plurality of stationary leaf hinge sections, a plurality of movable leaf hinge sections, a rotatable shaft, a plurality of tandem arranged rotary actuators located in spaced relation along the length of said shaft, means interconnecting said shaft and said movable leaf hinge sections comprising a plurality of rings, said rings being attached to said shaft and to said movable leaf hinge sections and being disposed between said actuators, each actuator Vcomprising a cylinder having a reciprocable piston disposed therein capable of fluid pressure actuation in both directions, said stationary leaf hinge sections being connected to said cylinders, means supporting said shaft for rotation relative to said cylinders, and helical means operatively interconnecting the piston of each actuator with its cylinder and with said shaft for imparting rotation to the shaft upon reciprocation of said pistons.

10. A power hinge including, a plurality of stationary leaf hinge sections, a plurality of movable leaf hinge sections, a rotatable shaft, means interconnecting the rotatable shaft and said movable leaf hinge sections, a plurality of tandem arranged rotary :actuators located in spaced relation along the length of said shaft, each actuator comprising a cylinder having a reciprocable piston disposed therein capable of iluid pressure actuation in both directions, 'each piston dividing its respective cylinder into a pair of opposed chambers, a tube disposed within said hollow shaft and rigidly connected thereto, said tube having a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves terminating short of the ends thereof, means interconnecting the opposed chambers of said plurality of actuators in a parallel uid circuit arrangement comprising the grooves in said tube and passages in said shaft interconnecting at least one of said grooves and each of said opposed chambers, said stationary leaf hinge sections being connected to said cylinders, means supporting said shaft for rotation relative to said cylinders, and helical means operatively interconnecting the piston of each actuator with its cylinder and with said shaft for imparting rotation to the shaft upon reciprocation of said pistons.

l1. A rotary actuator assembly including, a stationary cylinder, reciprocable piston means disposed within said cylinder, a shaft extending through said cylinder and rotatably supported therein, a pair of members disposed within said cylinder having external helical means, means connecting one of said members with said cylinder so as to prevent movement thereof, means supporting the other member for rotation relative to said cylinder, said rotary member being keyed to said shaft, and a multipart thrust ring assembly disposed within said cylinder and engaging opposed shoulders on said shaft, said piston means having internal helical means mating with the external helical means of said members whereby reciprocation of said piston means imparts rotation to said shaft, said multipart thrust ring assembly supporting the thrust loads imposed on said members in both directions.

12. The rotary actuator assembly set forth in claim 11 wherein said multipart thrust ring assembly comprises four semicircular elements having mating slots and tongues which, when assembled, form two annuli, one of which engages one of the shoulders on said shaft and supports the thrust loads in one direction, and the other of said annuli engages the other shoulder on said shaft for supporting the thrust loads in the opposite direction.

Watson et al. May 1, 1956 Geyer et al. May 7, 1957 

